Browns Named a 'Sleeper Pick' to Sniff the Playoffs

It seemed the Cleveland Browns’ decision to ship Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams was a sign the team knew they were a year or two away from being a serious contender in the playoffs. 

Still, the Browns made sure to add two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Verse in the trade, giving Cleveland a 25-year-old rising star at defensive end to place on a young team that has a strong nucleus. 

What Cleveland doesn't have is a stable quarterback position, which is needed to compete in a division that has Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow.

So far can the Browns go in Year 1 of the Todd Monken regime?

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN named the Browns as a potential playoff sleeper this season, but it would take Deshaun Watson playing "passable" to get that far.

"But here's a snoozefest of a sleeper, if we're going that deep: the Browns," Fowler wrote. "I'm not declaring that Cleveland will make the playoffs just yet, but there's legitimate talent on both sides of the ball. The defense has a chance to be stout. 

"Resources were spent to replenish the line. The offense is well-stocked with intriguing young talent. If Deshaun Watson's play graduates from poor to passable, Cleveland might be in decent shape in Todd Monken's first season."

Dan Graziano was a lot more skeptical, noting that Watson's history isn't promising for the Browns. 

"If Watson had played passably in 2022, 2023, or 2024, Monken probably wouldn't be there, because Kevin Stefanski probably would have kept his job," he wrote. 

"We haven't seen Watson play well since 2020, so I'm going to have to see a lot of success from Watson/Cleveland before I believe it."

The Browns are expected by many in the league to finish last in the AFC South. Cleveland's quarterbacks showed no promise of being able to deliver this season by their play in the preseason.

It's undeniable that Browns general manager Andrew Berry has drafted young talent that will help the team contend in the future. But like so many teams in the league, the Browns are a quarterback away.